by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

It was fitting in a game with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in attendance that Miami (Fla.) point guard Shane Larkin would dish an assist off the backboard to Kenny Kadji for a throw-down dunk that emphasized a 24-point lead against the team that usually dominates the Atlantic Coast Conference, North Carolina.

The off-the-backboard alley-oop specialists James and Wade, accompanied by Heat teammate James Jones, gave the Hurricanes a standing ovation after the play and were on their feet several other times throughout Miami's 87-61 rout of the Tar Heels.

"Kenny said, 'Backboard, backboard,' " Larkin said. "I didn't see anybody behind him, so I tossed it off the backboard really soft, and he killed it."

"It was definitely a fun thing to have (James and Wade) come to a game," Larkin said. "It's a great feeling knowing people at that level are realizing what you're doing."

Jim Larranaga's group hasn't reached celebrity status, but with two of the NBA's best players taking notice, it's the perfect wake-up call for the rest of the country to start taking notice. Larranaga said he received a phone call early in the week requesting tickets for the Heat players

"I told them, 'Sorry, it's sold out.' But then we said, 'We think we can fit you in.' For our recruiting purposes, it gives us a lot of credibility when we tell them we're a hot ticket in town and our program is headed in the right direction," he said jokingly.

The No. 11 Hurricanes put on another show at home, making a school record-tying 15 three-pointers and extending their winning streak to 11 games. Another climb in the polls for the Hurricanes is likely next week, which might mean their best ranking ever.

Larkin had 18 points and a career-high nine assists for the ACC leaders, who built margins of 9-0 and 44-27 en route to another rout. They improved to 11-0 at home, where each of the past four wins have been by at least 22 points.

Such success is unprecedented for the Hurricanes (19-3, 10-0), who set a school record for ACC victories in a season with eight games to go. They are the last unbeaten team in league play among the major conferences.

Miami's smothering defense did the rest, flustering a team averaging an ACC-best 79.1 points a game.